te Pā Oke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $24.95
Once every few years, when the positive chi flows from the East and the sauvignon gods of the South smile fondly on the vines, the folk at te Pā might, if we’re lucky, decide to create an ‘Oke’. Pronounced ‘aw-keh’, oke in te reo Māori translates to striving for, or to fight or battle for, and, dear reader, I’d be doing just that to get my hands on a bottle as soon as you can. It’s so different from classic sauvignon and also more finely tuned than many barrel fermented styles. Handpicked, whole bunch pressed and fermented in 320l French cigar barrels, where it lies quietly on its yeast lees to develop into something pretty sensational. Aromas of marzipan, smoked passionfruit, gently bruised basil and lemongrass lead the way to a palate saturated with soft citrus, prickly acidity and quartzy, mineral-rich textures to finish. Produced by a family that can trace their roots back to the first Māori landing at the Wairau Bar 800 years ago, the new Oke is an evolution in modern sauvignon and I love it.
